Mayor Gary Podesto has called for eight nights of public
forums on the city's proposed water utilities privatization deal in response to calls from
fellow council members and contract skeptics for more public participation.

The post-holiday meetings, if approved by the City Council, would be held on the
following dates:

* Jan. 15: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jim Binder and Anthony Cerasuolo, consultants hired
by the city, will be available to answer specific questions on the contract.

* Jan. 16-17: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

* Jan. 22-24: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

* Jan. 27: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

* Jan. 29: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The sessions will be held at Stockton's City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado Street.

The proposed work sessions, Podesto said, will allow the council and the public to
conduct "an in-depth review" of a 20-year contract with OMI-Thames for
operations control of Stockton's water, wastewater and stormwater utilities.

The City Council last week authorized its administrators to negotiate a final contract
with OMI-Thames, a move that could lead to a council vote on the multi-million dollar pact
by early February.

Podesto has said repeatedly the public has had adequate time and opportunity to review
the privatization process and deal.

"We get frustrated because, I think, we're answering over and over and over again
the same questions," the mayor said. "I've just got to be more patient. We'll
answer them and we'll answer them and we'll answer them."

Sylvia Kothe, chairwoman of the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton, which
gathered more than 18,000 signatures to put the privatization issue on the March ballot,
questioned whether the meetings were scheduled too closely together in an attempt to end
public comment and have the council approve a contract before voters can have a say.

"It sounds like it's a rush to get everything done. What is it, eight days?"
Kothe said. She's concerned residents won't be able to spend that many consecutive days in
hearings.